The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-15
THE FRENCH DILEMMA.
THE ARMY sOlNDALs UNDERMINE AIL
CONFIDENCE. IN PUBLIC LEE.

10
pr..,asut erevy's ssu.sn.Lsw Net Cleared
IN spite or Linsusia's ceafsssieus-Dne
Implicated GeaerAi Dtsappears-B euian-
gers Arrest an Assstisssi csnpiieasiss.
tsytsAl 1851 ~ Tan sus fftatins and Fss's'htms
AssocsahoM
PARIS, Oct. 14.-France Ii still occupied, as
Il has been for days, with the latest great scan
dal, tho disgrace OF Gen. Cafarel, the selling OF
Iegion OF Honor decorations, and the impllca-
Hon In tho mess OF long list Of the leading
men OF the day. Festive supper parties at the
Cafe do 10 Paix or the AnGlais grow solemn and
forget their vino and cigars in violent discus
sion a. to the relative guilt Of the accused. and
vorkmen taking their small glass and huge
roll Of bread ut noon develop an inexplica bic
reverence for the roll OF tho Legion OF Honor,
concerning which they have the mistiest ideas.
aud invent fresh curses for the men and women
Who have betrayed the country"
The fact II that there has been no betrayal
Of France or anything else. The little red
dbbon Of the Legion Of Honor briRhtens up
he coat front OF almost every other man who
wears black coat Often It means that the
man who wears 1t has invented something. Is
Q good writer or musician. has fought for
France. or 70 able to paint GOOD pictures.
Usually Il means Just nothing at all. nothing
the name Of an Englishman.
To corrupt officials who have power to be-
stow these bits OF red ribbon Is. In reality.
ouite the ordinary way Of getting them. al
though the thought ID unpleasant to the
minority who have earned their ribbon hon.
estly. Usually influence Ii brought to bear,
and frequently influence IL paid for literally.
How else Ii It that wealthy Frenehman who
n not decorated IL an exception
There are scores OF Nine Limousins In
Paris. and there are no lnck Of Caffarels In the
Army and out OF II. Nine. Limousin looked
mn rich mon who wanted decorations and wore
willing 10 pay, and put II to Gen. Cafisrel. her
friAnd. that he might az well cause them to get
ths rihbon which wouid burt NO one but would
relieve his financial embarrassm ents, Nine.
Idmous,n IA a clever little woman, hump
bscksd, yellow, wrinkled, and Just the charac-
tsr to land romantic colorina to the scandal,
nov thst she IA osusht.
ghe borrows An idea from the devil flsh,
vhiob. 10 bafie its enemies. emits an inky
AUD that blhckens the water all apout. Mrs,
fimouhin and her soconplices seek to make
all With whom they, have come in contact
blanker and mora entity than themselves, and
have bean launching accusations right and
left unHl the scandal has grown 90 thick that
n viii be- impossible to see 10 the bottom OF 1t.
Wilson. the son-in.law OF President Greyy,
bss been one Of the chief sufterers. and be-
Uevers In his guilt have been plentiful. His
defence haa been weak. Now Nina. Lamousin.
the prussian Baron Kreitmayer. and the rest
eonfesu that they accused him In the hope that
thew would be shielded and the affair hushed
mn Tor bis sake. II ia a. dangerous to believe
their confession of lying a. their accusation.
For Wilson Il can only be said that there IL
NO absolute proof that he fixed q tariff
for decorations. and used his influence with
his fsther.in-law to supply Nine. Limousine
clients. Against him. It must bs remembered.
that he 10 by common consent pretty much Of
q good for. nothing. He Is badly In need OF
money, having lost his inherited fortune, and
his ssfa;ts were ct one time 90 complicated
that his sister sold her ma&nifcent chateau.
and devoted the proceeds to saving him from
DISGRACE.
The whole AFFAIR has had most painful Of
feot on the old President Of the Republic. who
has shortened his holiday and returned to Paris
10 protect his family honor.
The most sensational incident Of the whole
thing ID tho arrest OF Gen. Boulanger. The
first thought of the guilty ones was to connect
the popular General with the scandal and
every accusation was eagerly seized on by
BoulanRer's enemies The attempt to impli-
cate him was q failure, but Il worked tremen-
dously on the feelings Of the General himself.
There was . rush Of newspaper mon to Cler-
Ssont.Fsrrand, and whom they got there 3ou-
lAngsr had theory worked out, and expressed
The opinion that the whole scandal had been
worked by Gen. Ferron. Minister Of War. to In
jure Boulanger himself. Ferron's hated prede-
csssor. Boulanger showed more enthusiasm
than good Judgment in his speech. and when
called upon to explain such language toward
his superior maintained that he was right.
Now he IL under arrest for thirty days. 1t 10
not ordinary arrest with imprisonment. but
suspenBfon from duties az commander OF the
thirteenth army corps and close confinement
70 his room.
There ID trsmendous excitement among
1oulAngists over this arrest. and he gets un-
limited sympathy. most OF which is wasted. as.
ct the worst. the council OF Ministers. which
VIII decide whether his punishment should be
more severe. can only deprive him OF his COM
nand. But that they Will hesitate to do.
Tho Ministry IL anything but strong. Bou-
LANCER u their buGbear, and to have him out
Of the way ct Clsrmont-F Fernando s their hearts